Psalm 124:1-81 A Canticle in steps. If the Lord had not been with us, let Israel now say it:2 if the Lord had not been with us, when men rose up against us,3 perhaps they would have swallowed us alive. When their fury was enraged against us,4 perhaps the waters would have engulfed us.5 Our soul has passed through a torrent. Perhaps, our soul had even passed through intolerable water.6 Blessed is the Lord, who has not given us into the harm of their teeth.7 Our soul has been snatched away like a sparrow from the snare of the hunters. The snare has been broken, and we have been freed.8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.Exodus 1:8-14, 228 Meanwhile, there arose a new king over Egypt, who was ignorant of Joseph.9 And he said to his people: "Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are many, and they are stronger than we are.10 Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply; and if any war should advance against us, they may be added to our enemies, and having fought against us, they might depart from the land."11 And so he set over them masters of the works, in order to afflict them with burdens. And they built for Pharaoh the cities of the tabernacles: Pithom and Raamses.12 And the more they oppressed them, so much more did they multiply and increase.13 And the Egyptians hated the sons of Israel, and they afflicted them and mocked them.14 And they led their life directly into bitterness, with hard work in clay and brick, and with all kinds of servitude, so that they were being overwhelmed with the works of the land.22 Therefore, Pharaoh instructed all his people, saying: "Whatever will be born of the male sex, cast it into the river; whatever will be born of the female sex, retain it."